CASTLEMAINE teenager Sarah Richardson has capped an outstanding season with the Fernwood Bendigo Vipers football team by being named player of the year in the Victorian Women’s Premier League.
The young midfielder polled 21 votes to earn the Gold Medal in the elite competition.
A stunned Richardson thanked her father and Fernwood Vipers coach Peter Richardson, as well as all the teammates who had worked hard to compete in the state elite women’s soccer competition.
The Gold Medal award adds to Richardson’s impressive tally of achievements.
She has represented Victoria at football and futsal (indoor soccer) and trained and played with the Melbourne Victoria women’s squad in the W-League.
The skilful midfielder has also represented Loddon Mallee Lightning in the Victorian Champions League action played over summer.
A graduate of the Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport program, Richardson is aiming to again secure a place in the Victory squad for the 2010-11 campaign.
Leading votes for the women’s gold medal were Richardson 21, Heidelberg’s Rita Mankowska (ineligible) on 17, Tai Karp from Box Hill, and Sandringham’s Emma Runnalls on 16.
South Melbourne’s Fernando De Moraes won the Premier League gold medal by a vote.
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